Pianists to perform at PSO gala with one hand
One-handed pianists aren’t as uncommon as you might think.
Pianist and composer Alexander Scriabin injured his right hand over-practicing in the late 1800s. Paul Wittgenstein developed new techniques after losing an arm during World War I. Leon Fleisher developed the musical equivalent of the yips (focal dystonia, a neurological condition affecting the fingers) in the latter half of the 20th century, though he eventually recovered.
In April, Lang Lang, 35, perhaps the most famous pianist in the world, canceled his touring appearances for the summer citing inflammation in his left arm. His doctors have prescribed rest and expect a full recovery in time.
Notwithstanding his injury, Mr. Lang returns to Pittsburgh Sept. 16 to perform with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra during its annual gala, though he’ll play only with his right hand. He’ll share the stage — and indeed, the piano bench — with 14-year-old wunderkind Maxim Lando, already a world-renowned pianist and a graduate of the Lang Lang International Music Foundation.
“This gala concert is very important to me since this is my first public concert after the inflammation,” wrote Mr. Lang in an email
exchange. “I have a lot of old friends in the PSO, and I very much look forward to returning and performing with them again.”
Lang Lang will play with his right hand while Maxim performs with his left. They’ll perform Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” with the orchestra, as well as arrangements of “America” from Bernstein’s “West Side Story,” the “Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy” from Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” and “The Aquarium” from Saint-Saens’ “Carnival of the Animals.”
Though both musicians are based in New York City, they’ll begin rehearsing in Florida four days before the gala to accommodate Mr. Lang’s rehearsal schedule, as he’s also preparing the program for a Carnegie Hall performance with Maxim as well as legendary jazz pianist Chick Corea and the Philadelphia Orchestra.
“When I got the call from Lang Lang asking if I could play with him, I started jumping up and down,” Maxim said in a phone interview.
Maxim’s parents are the directors of the Great Neck Music Conservatory in Long Island, N.Y. He began taking piano lessons at a very early age and progressed with astonishing speed. Maxim has performed as a soloist with the Russian National Orchestra, Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, New York Wind Orchestra and the Kazakh State Philharmonic to name a few. He was the first American to win the Gold Prize at the International Television contest for Young Musicians in Moscow in 2015, and he won the Juilliard Pre-College Concerto Competition in 2014.
“I’ve never done anything like this,” Maxim said. “We’ve played duets together, but never one hand each of a single part. It’ll be much more difficult than normal duets. There are places where we have fast runs together and some really-awkward fingerings, but it’s so much fun to do different hand cross-overs with him.”
Mr. Lang and Maxim also will perform their onehanded duet program in Vancouver, Canada.
“Maxim is one of the most talented young pianists to come through the Lang Lang International Music Foundation,” Mr. Lang said. “Although he is only 14 years old, he has already performed with many great conductors and orchestras at amazing venues that many pianists only dream about. I’d like to give more opportunities to talented young artists. Collaborating with them inspires me.”
Mr. Lang founded the Lang Lang International Music Foundation in 2008. Maxim was one of only about 10 students admitted to the foundation in 2013, and he credits the organization with helping to boost his reputation on the international stage.
“They sent me to so many places that I’ve never been before, and I made all of these connections and performed for all of these people,” Maxim said. “It’s still having a huge impact on my career, and I’m very grateful to the foundation.”
This will be Maxim’s first trip to Pittsburgh, but he’s heard plenty of recordings of the PSO. While he’s excited to share a piano bench with Mr. Lang, he hopes to return to perform with the orchestra as a soloist some day. With an already impressive career, it’s not difficult to imagine that happening in the near future.
“They’re just an unbelievable orchestra, really amazing players,” he said. “And Manfred has such a huge reputation. I’m very excited to work with him.”